“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” “Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.” – Albert Schweitzer, Born Jan. 14, 1875.
This is a two-for. Two quotes from the same guy, but I think they are interrelated.
If you want to influence people, you may have heard the phrase “lead by example”.
I've talked about something similar myself and I call it the “bellwether effect”.
Do the stuff you want to learn how to do. Document this process and share it in real time. You will build an audience of people who want to imitate you.
Practice makes you better. They see you transform. They want to transform, too. The follow the steps they see you take. Some who follow will reach their own goals and you get credit for helping.
Now, if the thing you are doing and becoming is something they want to do/be pretty bad, for health or wealth or whatever reason, they will pay good money to be warned about the gotchas and shown the shortcuts.
Do it for long enough, and your crowd sees you as a true expert.
You've proved you walked your talk – the evidence has been published. The proof is self-apparent. And you already have a gaggle of true fans and a growing legion of followers. So to outsiders just discovering you, the fact that you have a crowd makes you worth following.
Why? Because imitating you WORKS, and so people follow.
Do you think this is something you can imitate?
Teaching is half the real substance.